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Lynne de Kwiatkowski Russo,
owner of Minerva Stud Farm, has passed away this Christmas Eve, 2009.
Her husband and family were by her side at West Marion Hospital in
Ocala, Florida.
Lynne dek Russo, was born on May 2, 1939 in
New York City. The daughter of Minerva Fedyn and Frank B. Sawdon; an
advertising executive at Frank B. Sawdon, Inc..
Minerva Fedyn, remarried Paul W. Williams, a former U.S. Attorney and
Supreme Court judge.
Lynne married Henryk de Kwiatkowski, an Aviation entrepreneur with
whom she had six children. She later remarried Maurizio Candotti
Russo, vice president of Idelson Gnocchi Publisher Ltd..
Lynne dek Russo was a pillar of New York
society. Lynne had been a member of the River Club, Piping Rock,
Lyford Cay Club, Quantuck Beach Club, Quogue Field Clubs, and Beach
Club in PB, and was a member of the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian
Club at the time of her death. Lynne remarried Maurizio Candotti Russo
in 1990, they lived in New York, Rome, Westhampton Beach, North Caicos
and Palm Beach. Then in 1999 they moved to Ocala, where Lynne founded
Minerva Stud Farm and dedicated the final years of her life breading
horses.
With a deep love for horses, and a profound
knowledge of breeding, Lynne along with her first husband bred,
purchased and raced some of the best thoroughbred horses in the world.
Their achievements include, three Eclipse Awards, one being
Conquistador Cielo’s, Horse of the Year. Two Belmont Stakes winners
and many other Grade 1 Stakes winners. Lynne purchased Danzig, the
world's Top Leading Sire for many years. Lynne has also been credited
with helping to secure Calumet Farm's continuation as a modern day top
thoroughbred facility. Lynne also advised her first husband to buy
Calumet Farms in KY.
Lynne went into Thoroughbred breeding in
1975.
Her quote: " My
first mare was, KENNELOT. GALLANT MAN - QUEEN SUCREE by RISOT .
Kennelot's racing career was 3 wins at three and earnings of
$24,603.00, but she became the dam of : STEPHAN'S ODYSSEY: 6
wins at two and three and earnings of $1,255,328.00. 1st Hollywood
Futurity (G1) Dwyer Stakes (G1) 1st Kentucky Derby and 2nd
The Belmont Stakes. LOTKA: 10 wins in 20 starts,
$721,804.00. Acorn Stakes (G1) Black Helen H., etc.
My next significant purchase was a Northern
Dancer colt, who she named DANZIG. He showed great brilliance,
but was injured after his 3rd race with small earnings of $33,000.00.
He became America's leading sire in 1991, 1992 and 1993 with progeny
earnings of $91,202,277.00. At the same time that I purchased DANZIG,
at The Saratoga Yearling Sale, I bought a filly which I named, DE
LA ROSE,. NIJINSKY, ROSETTA STONE by ROUND TABLE. She became
Champion Grass Mare in the U.S. winning The Hollywood Derby, Diana H.,
2nd in The Kentucky Oaks with earnings of $544,647,00. She is the dam
of two Stakes winners. My family sponsors The DE LA ROSE STAKES
annually at Saratoga Race Track, donating a winning purse of
$70,000.00 added."
Lynne
dek Russo is survived by her husband Maurizio, six children:
Michelle Corsini, Nicole Timonier, Conrad de Kwiatkowski, Arianne de
Kwiatkowski, Stephan de Kwiatkowski, and Alexandra “Lulu” Gilardini,
and sixteen grandchildren.
Lynne dek Russo
together with Woody Stephens and her Danzig .
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